Economic breakthrough for Dyffryn Teifi

I’ve claimed victory after the Economy Minister confirmed that she will be establishing a group to consider the Teifi Valley as a Local Growth Zone and to identify tangible actions that will help generate jobs and stimulate the economy in the area. The Teifi Valley will also be linked to the work underway by the Welsh Government on jointly promoting the Welsh language and economic development.

Importantly, the Minister has confirmed that the Teifi Valley will now be considered for early deployment of next generation broadband. This reverses the statement last week by the Welsh Government in which no part of Ceredigion or West Wales was included in the first phase of superfast broadband roll-out.

I warmly welcome the Minister’s commitment to the Teifi Valley. I have been pressing for several months that the Powys Local Growth Zone project should be rolled out to Ceredigion. There is now a model for this to happen in the Teifi Valley.

I am especially pleased that the superfast broadband rollout will also be prioritised in this area. No area of Ceredigion was originally included in early roll-out and I was quick to challenge both the Economy Minister and First Minister on this. I’m pleased with their response and although not all of Ceredigion is included, at least some of Ceredigion will benefit in 2013-14, with the rest following in 2014-15.

I will now be working with the Welsh Government and the Local Authority to put this work into action.